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Mayor Lois Frankel says she’s not a drinker, and that she’s not enthused at the plan to bring World of Beer, a somewhat high-end bar with hundreds of beers from around the world, to 101 N. Clematis Street.

Despite Frankel’s argument against a bar in the family-oriented side of Clematis by the fountain, she is in favor of changing an ordinance with a technicality that is preventing World of Beer from opening at 101 N. Clematis (at the old Tommy Bahamas). A city ordinance doesn’t allow alcohol-only establishments within 500 feet of a school (this doesn’t count restaurants that serve alcohol), which would deny World of Beer a permit. However, the ordinance measures the distance from the edge of St. Ann School, to the edge of the parcel that World of Beer would be placed in. The actual World of Beer location would be more than 500 feet from the St. Ann School.

City staff had already recommended tweaking the ordinance to allow World of Beer to come to 101 N. Clematis. But at Monday’s Mayor-Commission workshop, commissioners and the mayor entered a moral debate of what sort of establishments should be on one of the city’s prime downtown blocks.

“We’ve invested a lot of money in this park to make it a family friendly area and to be an economic stimulator,” Frankel said. “I want to hear everyone’s thoughts on it. Wouldn’t we rather have a Duffy’s or something?”

Al Malefatto of Greenberg Traurig LLC said that while there wouldn’t be a kitchen at World of Beer, the bar would work with area restaurants to deliver food for customers. Malefatto also argued that only beer and wine, and not liquor, would be sold.

After the workshop, when asked if she feels more comfortable with World of Beer since it’s a beer-only bar, Frankel said: “I don’t want any drunk people coming out of the bar molesting kids at the fountain.”

“I have a feeling that on Clematis Street itself, we have enough of these type of establishments,” Frankel said at the workshop. “I’m not a drinker, and I don’t know the difference between having a place that sells 100 beers or sells vodka or whatever people drink these days.”

Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell said, “I know we have own preferences, but I also believe the free market system should be dictating. I’m not a drinker either, but I recognize that having them in downtown is important for any downtown.”

Commissioner Jeri Muoio was in favor of changing the ordinance but isn’t excited about the World of Beer.

“I don’t have a problem changing the ordinance,” Muoio said. “What I do have a problem is with a World Of Beer here.”

Commissioners gave the go-ahead for the proposal to move forward, and will likely vote to change the ordinance at an upcoming commission meeting.

*Update (5:43 p.m.): Frankel, through a city spokesman, said she is not against World of Beer, but she would have preferred it closer to Flagler at the old Fire Rock Pizza location (Malefatto said that location is already being discussed for another business) and not right next to the fountain.